State
Representative Jennifer Garrison, right, was
guest speaker at the 50th Kiwanis Scholarship Banquet
held April 22 at Swiss Hills Career Center. From left
are Kiwanians Karina Reusser, emcee and program
chair, and Ruth Workman, club president. The banquet
honors the top five percent of Monroe County students.

Photo by Arlean
Selvy

by Arlean Selvy
Publisher

It was a celebration of education.
It was a celebration of our youth and
their futures.
It was a celebration of the 50th
anniversary of the
Woodsfield Kiwanis Club’s Annual Scholarship Banquet.
Thirty scholarships, over $11,000, were presented to
Monroe County students who will seek higher educations
in their quests for success.
State Representative Jennifer
Garrison, guest
speaker, looked out over the crowd of students,
parents and family members gathered and told them if
she could give only one piece of advice it would be
to, “figure out what you love – what you are
passionate about. Happiness is not about money; it’s
finding out what you love and getting an education to
do that …” She commended the students and said she
admires the strength, the confidence and the drive
that got them to the scholarship event. “You will all
be successful … you proved that by being here
tonight,” she said.
“You each have a great journey ahead
of you.
Recognize that the destination may be unknown; enjoy
that journey. Relish the lessons you will learn about
yourself and the people you work with. It is during
this journey when you will develop your abilities as a
leader, when you will learn how and when to inspire
others, when you will realize the potential you have
to become some of the great leaders of our century,”
concluded Garrison.
At the conclusion of her address, a
framed quilt
barn painting, by Woodsfield businesswoman and artist
Yvonne Reusser, was presented to Representative
Garrison. It was noted the piece of art was done on
April 22, the day of the 50th scholarship banquet.
Reusser is the mother of Kiwanian Karena
Reusser-Cooper, chairperson of the banquet planning
committee and emcee. Karena offered special thanks to
scholarship sponsors.
Earning the overall highest scores
throughout her
high school career and winner of the Cameron Coca-Cola
Scholarship of $1,000 was Monroe Central High School
senior Alexandra Stephen. The scholarship was
presented by George Wells, coordinator, Gifted and
Talented program.
Scholarships of $100 each for a male
and female
student with the highest ACT scores went to Aaron
Winland and Amy Swallow. Sponsored by Francis E.
Paulus Insurance, the awards were presented by Ed
Paulus.
A $500 achiever’s award, sponsored by
Richard Yoss
and Roger Claus, was presented by Yoss to Lindsay
Huntsman.
Yoss explained the criteria for the
Yoss-Claus
scholarship is the same criteria used by The Ohio
State University. He and his wife, Marie, and Claus
and his wife, Phyllis, all attended OSU and are strong
Buckeye fans.
The Ohio State Alumni Club
Scholarship of $600 was
presented by Marc Ring, principal at Swiss Hills and
Monroe Central, to Latara Arnold. Latara plans to
attend OSU and pursue a degree in pharmacy.
A $400 scholarship, sponsored by
Manifred Keylor,
Richard Yoss and the Monroe County Democratic
Executive Commit-tee, was awarded to Kyle Rader by
Carol Hehr.
A $300 scholarship, sponsored by the
Monroe County
Repub-lican Executive Committee, was awarded to
Michael Paulus.
Two $1,000 scholarships, sponsored by
John and Lois
Baker, Baker Equipment, were awarded to Kayla Habig
and Kyle Yoho. Presentation was made by Rusty Atkinson
and Nikki Baker.
Six bank scholarships of $300 each
were awarded. It
was in the midst of these presentations that the
absence of Robyn McGuire, who was to present the
scholarship for Ohio Valley Community Credit Union,
was explained. She was unable to attend due to the
tragic death of her nephew, 28-year-old Jesse Ault,
killed in Iraq by a roadside bomb. McGuire is manager,
human resources marketing and development at the
credit union.
Standing in for McGuire, the scholarship was awarded
by Roger Claus, a veteran of the Korean War. Accepting
the scholarship for Laighnell Roberts was River High
School Principal Dr. Vince Monseau.
Claus called for a moment of silence
in recognition
and to honor Jesse Ault and his family.
Sharon Cain was recipient of the
Citizens National
Bank scholarship, presented by CEO Carey Bott.
Zach Ring was recipient of the
Woodsfield Savings
Bank scholarship, presented by President Mike Knuchel.
Savannah Burke was recipient of the
WesBanco of
Woodsfield and Beallsville scholarship, presented by
Rep. Garrison in the absence of Lisa Burkhart.
Cassandra Daggett was recipient of
The Peoples
Savings Bank of New Matamoras scholarship, presented
by Ron Cooley, CEO.
Michael Paulus was recipient of the
Bayer Heritage
Federal Credit Union scholarship, presented by Robert
Burrow.
Three $500 Farm Bureau Scholarships
were presented by
Dan Greenlee. The Paul Hinderlong Scholarship was
awarded to Martha Koehler; the Wilma Christman
Scholarship was awarded to Amy Swallow and the Charles
Alleman scholarship went to Kyle Piatt.
Kyle Yoho and Jordan Smith were
awarded $500 Ruritan
Scholarships by Vernon Cline and Terry Hickman.
Sponsored by Kiwanian Carol Austin,
Supt., GMN
Education Service Center, a $200 scholarship was
awarded to Morgen Ramage by Larry Elliott,
superintendent, Switzerland of Ohio school district.
Two $200 Buddy Parks Scholarships
were presented by
Richard Yoss, friend of the Parks family. Scholarships
went to Miranda McFrederick and Samantha Mathews.
Three Science and Medical
Scholarships were awarded:
Megan Ensinger was presented a $300 scholarship from
Wetzel County Hospital by CEO George Couch. Martha
Koehler earned a $300 scholarship from Barnesville
Hospital, presented by Jan Chambers. Amanda McConnell
was presented a $200 scholarship sponsored by Walter
S. Burkhalter, Dr. Charles DeNunzio and Dr. Kenneth
Cooper.
Amanda McConnell and Craig Neiswanger
were awarded
$100 scholarships sponsored by Tim Blue and Modern
Hardware.
Selected to receive the Secrest
Community Service
Awards were April Hehr, $200, and Ashley Dick, $100.
The scholarships were presented by Dr. Kenneth Cooper.
The Secrest Award was established in honor of Bill and
Neva Secrest and is sponsored by their children.
Sponsored by Dan and Judge Julie
Selmon were $100
scholarships presented to each of the four-year
honorees. Presenting the scholarships were George
Richardson, administrative assistant, Switzerland of
Ohio school district, and father of Julie Selmon.
Recipients were: Lindsay Huntsman, Alexandra Stephen
and Michael Paulus of Monroe Central High School;
Latara Arnold, Beallsville High School; Sharon Cain,
Megan Ensinger and Laighnell Roberts, River High
School.
River High students in the top
five-percent of their
student body are: Sharon Cain, Megan Ensinger, Cory
Randall Ludolph and Laighnell Roberts, seniors;
Chelsea Lowe, Kelsey Krempasky, Cheyenne Romick, Erika
Williams, juniors; Desiree Hinkle, sophomore; Benjamin
Bartrug, Ryan Doty, Samantha Knowlton, Jordan Ramsay
and Flint Postle, freshmen.
Swiss Hills Career Center students
honored for being
in the top five-percent are: Cassandra Daggett, Kayla
Habig, Samantha Mathews, Amanda McConnell, Miranda
McFredrick, Morgen Ramage, Jason Williamson and Aaron
Winland, seniors; Marc Armann, David Davidson and Eve
Lindamood, juniors.
Beallsville High School honorees in
the top
five-percent are: Latara Arnold, Savannah Burke,
Martha Koehler, Amanda Morris, seniors; Alyssa
Headley, Kristin Lallathin, juniors; Cammie Groves,
Alexis Kanzigg, Jaymi Smith, sophomores and Charles
Taylor Myers, freshman.
The top five-percent at Monroe
Central are: Lindsay
Huntsman, Michael Paulus, Kyle Piatt, Kyle Rader, Zach
Ring, Alexandra Stephen and Kyle Yoho, seniors; Derek
Betts, Aleisha Guiler, Nicole Huffman and Sean
Smithberger, juniors; Kurt Zimmer, sophomore; Carissa
Emerick, Kory Lucas and Chelsea Robinson, freshmen.
Closing reflection and benediction
was by Kiwanian
Rusty Atkinson.
Woodsfield Kiwanis Club members
greatly appreciate
those who generously participate in the annual
scholarship event. Our congratulations to each
recipient. Kiwanians hold a fervant hope that each of
you reaches your highest goal in life.

Through the generosity of the Grisell family, a
corner of the Grisell Funeral Home property in Sardis
has been set aside to beautify the area around the
Bicentennial Historical Marker. The marker
commemorates the remaining community well, located in
the center of the Muskingum and Mound Street crossing.
Shown at the most recent beautification project are,
from left, Sid Grisell and his daughter Connie; Linda
Venhem, Joel Davis, Sharon Davis, Kris McPeek, Janet
Isaly and Eileen Maienknecht, SCIO members.
Photo by Martha Ackerman

Members of the Sardis Com-munity
Improvement
Organiza-tion (SCIO) are gearing up for the “Good Ol’
Days,” which is set for May 10, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A square dance will follow from 6 to 9 p.m.
SCIO members are bringing the past
into the present
with pioneer days demonstrators and trades of
yesteryear. There will be Civil War and Conestoga
encampments and even covered wagon rides!
“Sardis is one of the most idealistic
settings up and
down the Ohio River,” said Janet Isaly, one of the
original members of SCIO. “With the beautiful rolling
hills and picturesque scenery, the small town aspires
to draw visitors with all the unique shops we have to
offer.”
SCIO was formed in 2002. In addition
to Isaly,
original organizers were Linda Venhem, Eileen
Maienknecht and Kris McPeek. Isaly and Maienknecht
continue as officers. Rodney Rufener is president and
Joel Davis is vice-president.
A grant was sought for an Ohio
Bicentennial
Committee historical marker for Sardis’ one remaining
community well. The marker was granted and set. A
group of citizens met to discuss what might be done to
emphasize the marker.
The newly-formed group went after
another grant to
build a gazebo surrounding the well, which is located
in the middle of the crossing of Muskingum Street and
Mound Street. Monies were appropriated and an
Amish-built gazebo was constructed.
The next question was what kind of
surface should
surround the marker. It was agreed that the local
genealogical history could be preserved in the same
venture. The SCIO Brick Project was conceived. Bricks
have been, and still are, being sold with engraved
names to represent the past and present residents of
Sardis.
Through the generosity of the Grisell
family, a
corner of the property owned by Grisell Funeral Homes,
which is adjacent to the gazebo, was used. The first
bricks were laid in a patio form around the marker and
orders just kept coming. The project continues and
more room will be available in the form of a future
walkway.
There were several places to sit in
the gazebo, but
none on the brick patio. A new idea emerged and a
semi-circle bench was built around the bricks. The new
bench, crafted by John Brad-field, is patterned after
the gazebo to draw it all together in a beautiful flow
of design.
Many more beautification projects are
in the planning
stage as the brick project sales continue. To order a
family brick, contact Rodney Rufener, SCIO president,
at 740-483-2253 or Janet Isaly, SCIO secretary, at
740-483-1318.
In addition to extending the brick
sidewalk, future
projects include landscaping, boat docks, street flags
and hanging floral baskets.

<“The Treasure Chest” Now Open“The
Treasure Chest” opened recently in Woodsfield.
Bill Starkey has filled the shop, located at 139 N.
Main Street, next to McDonald’s, with used furniture,
appliances, glassware, antiques, collectibles and much
more.
Photo by Martha Ackerman

by Martha Ackerman
Staff Writer
You’ll find a world of treasures at
this new business
which opened recently in Woodsfield.
“The Treasure
Chest” is filled with used furniture, appliances,
glassware, antiques, collectibles and much more!
Always interested in attending public
sales and yard
sales, Bill Starkey has brought his wares together and
opened “The Treasure Chest.” The shop is located next
to McDonald’s at 139 N. Main Street. Look for the red,
blue and silver streamers.
If you are a collector of glassware,
Starkey has
Carnival glass, Fenton, Imperial, Viking and Fostoria.
He has some pieces of red glass. According to Starkey,
the red glass contains gold and is hard to find. He
also has a set of Indiana glassware. There are
miniature decorative tea cups and saucers, sets of
china, and assorted dishes.
There are also dated Fenton
commemorative plates and
even a beautiful Sheridan silver tea service.
A Longaberger basket, dated 1982, is
signed. There is
a set of 11 books which contain the roster of Ohio
soldiers who served in the Civil War. On display is a
ribbon “Civil War Veterans Reunion, 1900.”
In the “kitchen room” visitors will
find crocks,
assorted pots and pans and white porcelain ware. He
has one nice piece of Hull pottery.
Everything is clean and nicely
displayed.
There is a nice selection of antique
bed frames
including spindle and spool head and foot boards.
There are old quilts and lamps of all sizes and
designs. Crocheted doilies and embroidered pillow
cases can be found in the antique metal trunk.
You’ll find an antique solid oak
table that has eight
leaves, which extends the table to 12 feet!
Costume jewelry of all kinds can be
found here. There
are even NASCAR collectibles displayed in a glass
case.
An oak mantle is also available at
“The Treasure
Chest.”
You’ll find lots of pictures.
Starkey’s favorite is a
large framed print of “Courtship of Miles Standish”
dated 1886. He has assorted magazines dating from 1916
to the 1970’s
Young couples just setting up a
household will find
nice, clean furniture and appliances at affordable
prices. Available for sale are a pretty floral living
room suite, washer and dryer, and side-by-side
refrigerator. There are oak tables, chairs, shelves
and much more.
If you are looking for a special
item, ask. Starkey
has several buildings of items with no room to display
them.
For more information, call Starkey at
740-472-1422.

<
Charities Benefit
from BenefactorFred Dougherty and his wife, Ethel,
loved children
and they loved animals. For those reasons, the late
Fred Dougherty bequeathed $10,000 to each of his two
favorite charities, Warm the Children and the Humane
Society of Monroe County. Billie Elliott, good friend
and neighbor of the Doughertys, recently presented the
checks to, from left, Alicia Cogar, Humane Society,
and Arlean Selvy, publisher, Monroe County Beacon,
sponsor of the Warm the Children program. Elliott is
third from left, and Pandora Neuhart, Warm the
Children program coordinator, was on hand for the
presentation.“We
are so appreciative of this contribution for the children,” said Selvy, who
added the money will purchase coats and boots for many children of needy
families. “I’m just thrilled,” said Cogar, noting the
Humane Society’s need for money. Elliott said she couldn’t be more pleased
with Dougherty’s generosity to the charities. Dougherty died in August of
2007.

by Arlean Selvy
Publisher
“We are taking steps to have a safe
school and to
insure the safety of students by installing security
cameras and increasing security supervision.”
Concerned about recent bomb threats
at Powhatan
Elementary, Larry Elliott, superintendent, Switzerland
of Ohio school district, told the Beacon early this
week about three bomb threats last week. The April 23,
24 and 25 threats followed a threat reported on Wed.,
April 16.
Each threat was written on the wall
in a boys’
restroom. In each case, it was the same third- floor
restroom.
With tightened security, the Friday,
April 25, bomb
threat was quickly determined to be a prank. Students
were evacuated, the school swept by police and fire
personnel and students returned to class. Increased
security also allowed investigators to narrow down
suspects to “a short list,” according to Supt.
Elliott.
He said students must sign in and out
at restrooms,
and school staff checks the restroom after the
students exit.
Security cameras and increas-ed
supervision
concerning protocol for leaving a classroom are in
place. Elliott met with Pow-hatan Police Chief Chet
Oldfield April 28, and contracted for a police
presence in the school.
“I want the community to have
confidence in the
school and in the safety of their children,” said
Elliott. “I want the students to get a good education,
and will apply the money and resources to make sure
it’s accomplished,” he added.
Elliott, along with George
Richardson, administrative
assistant; Harry Schardlander, senior administration,
Ohio Valley Education Service Center; Sam Schumacher,
Switzerland of Ohio building and grounds and
transportation director; Dr. Vince Monseau, principal,
River High; and Darren Cook, principal at Hannibal and
Sardis elementary schools, started their Monday
morning, April 28, at Powhatan Elementary.
The April 24 bomb threat was reported
between 8:30
and 9 a.m. Students were evacuated and sent home via
bus and private vehicles. The school was swept and
nothing found.
While the Wednesday, April 23, threat
was discovered
in the early afternoon; the Friday, April 24 threat
was discovered in the “very early morning,” according
to Elliott.
“I’m pleased with the students and
their parents,”
said Elliott.“They’re all good people, and it’s
upsetting that someone is doing this.” He said school
officials will do all they can to make sure schools
are safe and secure.
Elliott noted a community meeting had
been planned
for concerned parents and was expected to be held
April 30.

Commitments to purchase more electric
power and to
move forward to increase the village water supply was
made April 21 by Woodsfield Village Council, which
also instructed superintendents to buy locally.
Council adopted a resolution to
increase its contract
with AMP Ohio Meigs Power Plant from three megawatts
to five mega-watts starting in 2012. According to Jeff
Woodell, village administrator, this will insure the
village level pricing for electricity in the future.
Woodell said the village currently averages five
megawatts a month.
Council entered into a contract with
Swiss Valley
Associates for the first phase of a raw water line
from the recently purchased Rubel Lake to the
Woodsfield water treatment plant.
Phase 1 is the planning, right-of-way
and easement
investigation and digital mapping.
During discussion, fishing was
mentioned and council
agreed there will be No Fishing in the Rubel Lake
water supply.
A motion was passed to authorize the
administrator to
pursue downtown revitalization in conjunction with
willing business owners. Sidewalks were discussed, and
Woodell said the village will share the cost, doing
the removal of existing concrete.
Woodell also instructed all village
superintendents
to buy locally when at all possible.
In other business, Councilman Bill
Moore reported the
recommendation of council’s Parking Committee. On the
recommendation of the committee, all parking meters on
West Church Street between South Main and South
Sycamore will be removed, and the last parking space
on West Church (before Sycamore) will be zoned No
Parking. In addition, Fourth Street from East Marietta
to High Street will be designated No Parking from Nov.
1 through April 30.
Council approved the recommendations.
Woodell reported on a meeting with
the Health Plan
officials regarding renewal. The finance committee
will review the proposal.
Council President Vernon Henthorn
reported a
complaint about the condition of a house on North Main
Street. No action was taken.
Councilman Dale English suggested a
caution light at
the SR78 entrance to the fire department.
Discussion was again held with regard
to changing the
name of North High Street, off Fairground Road, back
to its original name, John Street.
Village Clerk Patricia Templeton
reported this year’s
Workers Compensation premium is down from $33,670 last
year to $18,795 this year.

by
Gwynn Clifford
Beacon Correspondent
What was once the laughter of
children in the play
yard, the ringing of the school’s bell and the sounds
of learning are now replaced by the hands of time and
the sound of hammers and demolition crews. Hired to
raze the old Lewisville High School building, workers
have salvaged the building’s slate roof and are making
way for new uses of this historic village location.

In 1911, at a site that was previously the station
for the OR&W Railroad in Lewisville, the Summit
Township school district constructed the white wooden
building with a slate roof known a Lewisville High
School. The “new” four-room school took the place of a
previous facility erected in the mid-1800’s that had
featured a frame structure of timbers harvested in the
surrounding community and a slate roof imported by
railroad (circa 1870).
Some might remember that in 1923, the
Lewisville High
School became a four year school and an additional
building was needed; that school was torn down in
1963. The white wooden high school served the area
until a new red-brick school was built in 1930. At
that time, the wooden school served the elementary
grades and housed the cafeteria and space for
industrial arts classes for senior high students.
“I had a lot of enjoyable years at
the school, and I
liked all of my teachers,” said Wilda (Heft)
Bartenschlag of Lewisville who attended school at the
Lewisville building from 1935-39. “My first grade
teacher was Lucy Archer, and Dorothy Baker taught
second, and then Arnold Draper for third and fourth
grades. George Hines was my bus driver all the years.”
She also remembered Bill Denbow as the school’s
janitor responsible for firing up the coal stoves in
each room. Another “Bill” of note at the school was a
student who would later become Wilda’s husband. Her
three children were also pupils there.
As a student from 1933-37, Darlene (Winland)
Carpenter of Lewisville shared many fond memories of
her schoolhouse days.
“I remember they would sometimes send
the boys out to
gather coal to fire the stoves, and on occasion they
would put in some linestones. We would be at our work,
and then those stones would explode and scare us to
death, and the boys would just laugh,” recounted
Carpenter. Those same boys would also sneak into the
cloak room and help themselves to other students’
lunches for snacks or dilly dally on their way to and
from the outdoor toilets.
“Each day our teacher Mr. Arnold
Draper would choose
a student who was very good or did their assignment
well to have the honor to ring the school bell. Being
one of the smallest students, when I would get the
chance to ring the bell it would pull me up off of the
floor if I didn’t let go of the rope.” Carpenter hopes
to see the bell salvaged and placed somewhere in the
community as a tribute to the village school.
“As children, we were always in line.
At the end of
the school day we would march out to the buses and
each day the teacher chose someone different to lead
the lines,” said Carpenter. She shared memories of
parents’ involvement in a program called the Farmer’s
Institute held in the autumn harvest time each year
and how the community really supported its schools.
“I went down to take a few photos of
the school
before it’s gone,” shared Carpenter. She said she
thought for awhile about the many fond memories as a
student, as a parent who had three children (Dana,
Barry and Cheryl) attend there and as a cafeteria
employee later in life. “It’s so nostalgic; I always
felt so at home in that place.”
Summit Township Trustees now operate
the red-brick
facility located at the corner of Old Main and Back
Streets as the Lewisville Community Center. The Center
was rehabilitated over the past few years, outfitted
with a new kitchen and furnaces. However, the Trustees
determined the wooden school building to be a safety
risk and too costly to maintain. Trustee Tom Piatt
shared that the demolition project was originally
slated for completion in early spring. However,
project delays due to EPA “red tape” have the
estimated finish date in early May. Preliminary plans
have been discussed to use the site for a potential
expanded fire department facility.
The sound of the bell has ceased at the Lewisville
school but it will long be remembered for the caring
teachers who taught reading, writing and arithmetic
and important life lessons.

<Obituaries(read the full obituary in the paper) GOLDIE M. STOTTSBERRY
Goldie Marie Stottsberry, 81,
Woodsfield, died April
22, 2008 at Woodsfield Nursing and Rehabilitation
Center. She was born April 2, 1927, in Belmont County,
a daughter of the late Frank Mellott and Clara Mae
Anderson Mellott. Online condolences may
be expressed
at www.bauerturner.com.GOLDA REEF BOWEN
Golda Reef Bowen, 99, of Dorothy Love
Retirement
Community, Sidney, died April 7, 2008 in the skilled
nursing area at Dorothy Love. She was born Dec. 17,
1908, in Green Township, Monroe County, the youngest
daughter of Samuel and Caroline Reef. Online
condolences may be expressed at www.bauerturner.com.DAVID F. ROSE
David F. Rose, 96, 31901 Little Injun
Rd., Lower
Salem, (Marr Community), died April 22, 2008, at
Marietta Center for Health and Rehabilitation. He was
born March 31, 1912 near Marr, a son of the late Fred
Rinehart and Nancy Parks Rose. He was a retired farmer
and a member of the Creighton Ridge Church of Christ
near Sycamore Valley.
www.wattersfuneralhome.comJOHN KOWALCZUK, JR.
John Kowalczuk, Jr., 89, Woodsfield,
died April 26,
2008 at Wetzel County Hospital, New Martinsville,
W.Va. He was born Aug. 6, 1918, in Steubenville, a son
of the late Czeslawa Mosiejewski and John Kowalczuk,
Sr. Condolences may be expressed at
www.bauerturner.com.EDNA TALLMAN
Edna Edieth Tallman, 91, Woodsfield,
died April 21,
2008 at Woodsfield Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
where she had made her home for the past several
years. She was born March 19, 1917, in Monroe County,
the daughter of Della Lorraine and Edward Bryor.
Online condolences may be expressed
at
www.bauerturner.com.BLANCHE A. LANDEFELD
Blanche A. Landefeld, 86, Woodsfield,
died April 21,
2008 at Woodsfield Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
She was born March 10, 1922, at Stafford, a daughter
of the late Harry Vance and Edith Thompson Vance.
Online condolences may be expressed at
www.bauerturner.comRALPH PARKS
Ralph Parks, 86, Rinard Mills, died
April 28, 2008 at
Woodsfield Nursing and Rehabilitation Center after an
extended illness. He was born Sept. 14, 1921, a son of
the late Reason W. and La Vinice Scott Parks near
Marr. Online condolences may be expressed at
www.bauerturner.comPHILIP JAMES NEUHART
Philip James Neuhart died April 12, 2008 at his home
of cancer. He was born Sept. 25, 1924 in Woodsfield, a
son of the late Charles and Lelah Neuhart.

Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich.
A wise youth works hard all summer; a
youth who
sleeps away the hours of opportunity brings shame.
The last few days have been more like
it. It makes
the grass grow and you see folks getting their garden
ready for planting. We tried something new for us.
I’ll let you know if it works.
I guess I’m not the only one who
holds the FFA in
high esteem. I read recently, “The Ohio Future Farmers
of America (FFA) boasts of a membership of 22,661. FFA
offers teenage girls and boys an agricultural
education and sees itself as an ‘avenue for developing
individuals into strong solid citizens.’ What are we
missing?
The writer must have been acquainted
with the FFA
organization for some time as it is no longer the
Future Farmers of America but just plain FFA as
Agriculture Education covers much more than being
farmers. I’m not sure what the figures are now, but at
one time, 40 percent of the work force was in some way
related to agriculture. Not worth it? One of the big
changes in the agriculture education program is the
number of girls enrolling in the program.
I expect you’ve heard of or have seen
the movie
“Field of Dreams.” Well, I just finished mowing my
field of dandelions. I really don’t worry because when
I look out in the morning they will be back. They seem
to have the get up and go in the spring.
As I’ve observed while traveling
around, this is a
good year for them, some lawns nearly a solid yellow.
Perhaps we could call it the year of the dandelion, if
it didn’t happen every year.
I remember every spring Mom would
cook up a mess of
greens or so, and I know they included dandelion
leaves, unlike my favorite rhubarb whose leaves are
poison. I enjoyed eating greens because I knew spring
was on its way; plus your system needed this after a
cold winter.
I actually listened to a speaker who
raised
dandelions as a crop and talked about how he used
them. He didn’t convince me to start raising them for
my use. I also had a friend who made a tea from the
roots. I never had a chance to sample his tea. He
might have something as you see all kind of teas in
the store today all claiming to be healthful.
So, you see, the dandelion is more
than a beautiful
flower in the spring. It seems to disappear during the
summer only to return again in full force next spring.
Is it worth digging them out or squirting them with
weed killer?
In addition to the yellow dandelion
is our lawn, a
mess of creeping Charlie has creeped into our lawn.
This has a small purple flower so I have green, purple
and yellow colors in my lawn. Now if I could get the
clover to bloom earlier I could have a very colorful
lawn. Everyone seems to be going green; it is the
thing to do now. In a couple of weeks or so when the
flowers are gone, I’ll have a green lawn.
Where has all the gasoline gone? I
thought when
things are in short supply the price goes up. We must
be having a real shortage of the stuff.
I was waiting in Bob Evans the other
day to be
seated, and I picked up a little book dated 1930.
Inside among the cost of things, gasoline was 10 cents
a gallon. We must have really had a lot of gasoline in
those days. (Ha) I guess I was only five years old so
I didn’t need any gasoline. I do remember even then
Dad would shift out of gear and coast down hills to
save gasoline.
I read just the other day where a
teacher squirted
vinegar on a sleeping student. This might have been OK
if it hadn’t been squirted in his face.
I recall once at Skyvue I was showing
a film strip to
the class. When it was about over I noticed a student
had his head down and was sound asleep. As it happened
the film strip and period were over at the same time.
I had the rest of the students leave the room quietly,
and I didn’t turn on the lights. I think the student
slept for another period and a half before he woke up.
I think he had been coon hunting the night before.
One other time I got close to a
sleeping student and
yelled “Fire” as loud as I could. He woke up. I’m not
sure if it was the same student or not.
I know how easy it is to sometimes
sleep in class.
One quarter at OSU I could slip back to my room and
nap before I went to work. The next quarter I had a
boring Rural Sociology class taught by an equally
boring prof. The quarter was nearly half over before I
could stay awake for the whole class. I wasn’t alone
as the prof. said to me, “Easterling, wake up your
friend next to you. He might fall on you.” I did
manage a B in the course. Might have had an A if I had
stayed awake.
Finally the #10 answer to reasons for
not attending
church: The church will be decorated with poinsettias
and Easter Lilies for those who attend only on
Christmas and Easter.
Bible readings: (Mon.) Psalm 84:1-4;
(Tues.) Haggai
1:1-11; (Wed.) Haggai 1:12-15; From Ezra (Thurs.)
3:8-13; (Fri.) 4:1-4; (Sat.) 5:1-5; (Sun.) 5:6-17.